The Lord of the Rings: Rings of Power features a cast filled with diversity, this has been developing over time, since fantasy tales are mostly European in setting. The large cast of Rings of Power features Lenny Henry as Sadoc Burrows, Nazanin Boniadi plays Bronwyn, Miriel is portrayed by Cynthia Addai-Robinson, and also Ismael Cruz Córdova is Arondir in the series. So let’s look at fantasy television and movies though this overview is not comprehensive and covers main characters. One of the early fantasy films was Thief of Bagdad (1940). It had a setting and characters that seemed to be right out of One Thouand and One Nights. The film had a young sultan, Ahmad (John Justin), who is betrayed and later works to save the Princess (June Duprez) from the sorcerer, Jaffar (Conrad Veidt).
He is supported by a young thief, Abu played by Sabu, who later has his own adventures with a Djinn (Rex Ingram). Sabu was so charismatic that he has top billing over the other leads. Ingram is perfect as a memorable and powerful genie, but outwitted by the clever Abu. Thief of Bagdad is highly recommended for its performances and fun characters, the effects are a little dated, but this does not take away from the adventure. A later television show that aired in the UK’s Sky1, Sinbad (2012) had Elliot Knight play the lead role. Nala (Estella Daniels), a wealthy woman who ends up on Sinbad’s crew. Another crew member, Cook was played by Junix Inocian. Naveen Andrews starred as Lord Akbari who is searching for Sinbad who killed his son by accident during a fighting match. The show finished in one season and currently streams on Amazon Prime.
One of the most well known sword and sorcery heroes is Robert E. Howard’s Conan. Howard’s first Conan story, “The Phoenix on the Sword” appeared in Weird Tales in 1932. The first movie, Conan the Barbarian (1982) was a star making turn for Arnold Schwarzenegger as the Cimmerian. The most noteworthy actor in the movie was James Earl Jones who played the cult leader and sorcerer, Thulsa Doom. Originally, he was a foe of Kull the Conqueror, and appeared in the story, “The Cat and the Skull” (1928). The film also featured the actor Mako who provides the narration and also he played The Wizard. He is probably not of Oz, I’m thinking more of Khitai, the Cimmerian country that is Asian and has great wizards. Mako returned as The Wizard in the sequel, Conan the Destroyer (1984), now he had the name of Akiro.
Now, Conan on his adventure was accompanied by Bombaata, basketball legend, Wilt Chamberlain, played him. The captain of the guard was sent to protect Princess Jehenna (Olivia d’Abo) to find the jeweled horn of Dagoth. They are joined by the fierce warrior, Zula, played by Grace Jones. No one disputes her skill with her staff. She was the female version of a character introduced in Conan the Barbarian #84 (1978). A reboot film, Conan (2011) was later made by Jason Mamoa. He was memorable as Khal Drogo in Game of Thrones. The prequel series, House of the Dragon, debuts on August 21st. Sonoya Mizuno’s character, Mysaria, is an ally to Prince Daemon Targaryen (Matt Smith). Steve Toussaint plays Lord Corlys Velaryon married to Rhaenys Targaryen (Eve Best). Lastly, there is Baela Targaryen (Bethany Antonia) who rides the dragon Moondancer.
One of the early diverse roles on television was in Roar (1997) which had Prince Conor (Heath Ledger) trying to unite the tribes of 5th century Ireland against the Romans. Alonzo Greer played the magician apprentice, Tully, who joins Conor’s band of heroes. Another interesting fantasy show was the BBC’s Merlin (2008). The early days of the wizard featured Colin Morgan as Merlin, servant to Arthur Pendragon (Bradley James). Magic has been outlawed since the Great Purge and he must use magic in secret. Another person with magic is Morgana (Katie McGrath) and her servant is Guinevere played by Angel Coulby who eventually has a romance with Arthur.
Another fantasy show, The Outpost, spotlighted Talon (Jessica Green), an elf-like Blackblood, arriving at the remote Gallwood Outpost. There she meets and befriends the awkward, but brilliant inn keeper/scholar, Janzo (Anand Desai-Barochia). In the second season, they are joined by another Blackblood warrior, Zed (Reece Ritchie). The third season had crossing over from the Plane of Ashes, a Blackblood who had the same scientific curiosity as Janzo, Wren (Izuka Hoyle).
There was a very popular show, The Witcher, spun off fantasy novels by Andrzej Sapkowski. The lead character, Geralt of Rivia (Henry Cavill) protected the young princess of Cintra, Ciri (Freya Allan). The sorceress, Yennefer, played by (Anya Chalotra), has an elf heritage and takes part in Geralt’s adventures. Her fellow sorcererss who also trained in magic, Fringilla Vigo played by Mimi Khayisa, is now Yennefer’s rival. In 2000, there was a movie based on the fantasy role-playing game, Dungeons & Dragons. On the streets of Sumdall are the thieving duo of Ridley (Justin Whalin) and his hapless partner, Snails, portrayed by comedian Marlon Wayans. They encounter Norda, the elf ranger, played by Kristen Wilson. The new film, Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves, in theaters on March of next year, is set in the D&D game world, Forgotten Realms. The trio of adventurers has the Bard Elgin (Chris Pine) in a way leading Holga (Michelle Rodriguez), a Barbarian woman with her deadly axe, and the Sorcerer, Simon (Justice Smith). A later addition is Regé-Jean Page playing the Paladin named Xenk. These are some of the many fantasy films and shows that have strong, diverse actors and characters.
#RingsOfPower, #LennyHenry, #NazaninBoniadi, #CynthiaAddaiRobinson, #IsmaelCruzCordova, #ThiefOfBagdad, #Sabu, #RexIngram, #Sinbad, #ElliotKnight, #EstellaDaniels, #JunixInocian, #NaveenAndrews, #ConanTheBarbarian, #Mako, #JamesEarlJones, #ConanTheDestroyer, #WiltChamberlain, #GraceJones, #Conan, #JasonMamoa, #GameOfThrones, #HouseOfTheDragon, #SonoyaMizuno, #SteveToussaint, #BethanyAntonia, #Roar, #AlonzoGreer, #Merlin, #AngelCoulby, #TheOutpost, #AnandDesaiBarochia, #ReeceRitche, #IzukaHoyle, #TheWitcher, #AnyaChalotra, #MimiKhayisa, #DungeonsAndDragons, #MarlonWayans, #KristenWilson, #DungeonsAndDragonsHonorAmongThieves, #MichelleRodriguez, #JusticeSmith, #RegeJeanPage.
No comments:
Post a Comment